S P H ^ R O B O L U S STELLATUS.
S ta r-lik e Sphwrobolus.
Class and Obder CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, U n n Nat. Ord. G A S T R O M YC I,
l i n k , Grev.
G EN E R IC CHARACTER.
Peridium ( primo velo fugacissimo tectum) duplex ; ext. carnosum, demum stel-
latim fs s um ; int. membranaceum, demum elastice inversum projiciens sporangium
ghbosum, solidum, .iporutis in medio coacervatis.
Peridium (at first covered with a very fugacious veil) double ; outer one
carnose, a t length cleft in a stellate manner ; inner one membranaceous,
a t length becoming elastically inverted, and projecting a solid globose
sporangium, which contains a mass o f sporules.
spec if ic character.
Sph ,erobolus stellatus ; “ ghbosus, Jlavo-pallescens, ore regulari stellato-den-
tato."—F r ie s .
S. globose, yellow, becoming paler, the orifice regular, cleft into segments
in a stellate mariner.
Sph.®robolus stellatus, Tode, Fung. Meckl. 1. p. 43.— Pers. Disp. Fung. p. 58.
Syn. Fung. p. 115.—Alb. et Schwein. p. 70.—Pries, Symb. Gast. p. 1.—
Syst. Mycol. v. 2. p. 309.—Mees, Syst. t. 11. f 122.— Purt. Middl. Ft. v. 3.
p. 332. t. 30. bona.—Schmein. Fung. Carol. No. 302.
L ycoperdon Carpobolus, Linn. Sp. PI. 2. p. 1054.—BaUch, Elench. Fung,
p. 153.—Fl. Dan. t. 805— Som. Fung. t. 22.—Huds. Fl. Angl. p. 044.—
With. Bot. Arr. ed. 6. v. 4. p. 449.— Winch, Bot. Guide, v. 2. p. 105.
Carpobolus albicans, Willd. Fl. Berol. p. 414.
Carpobolus, Mich. Gen. PL Nov. p. 221. t. 101.
H ab. On rotten wood, sticks, &c. Not frequent. Appin, Captain Carmichael.
Foxhall, Captain W auch. Woods about Ja rdine Hall, Sir
W illiam J ardine and D r G reville.—In England, it has been found
occasionally by Mr Sowerby, Mr A bbot, Mr P urton, &c.
In the young state, this remarkable plan t is completely enveloped in a fine
woolly or cottony web, which is of a very evanescent nature. The
young plants p ush through this web, and appear like smooth, yellow
balls, rath e r larger than mustard seed, and of a firm substance when
divided. In the process o f development, the apex becomes dehiscent,
and splits into 5-7 equal, rath e r acute segments, which are persistent,
erect for some time, at length refiexed. Within the outer peridium
which we have ju s t mentioned, and which is o f a thickish, somewhat
carnose substance, is a white coloured inner one, of a membranaceous,
tenacious, yet thin structure, of a globular form, in short lining the
outer one, and containing a sporangium or ball of sporidia or sporules;
o f a brown colour and soft consistence, becoming harder and rugose in
age, and strongly resembling Sclerotium semen.
A t the time of th e dehiscence of the outer peridium, the inner one (a t this
time concave, with its mouth uppermost), with an inconceivable rapi